Sunday, May 10, 2015

All packed up and ready to go...

I leave tomorrow morning for Toledo and the Great Black Swamp! On Tuesday morning, I'm teaching a class on field sketching for beginners. This will be the third time I've taught this class, and it will be fun. This class is part of the "Biggest Week in American Birding" sponsored by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, and if you love birds (especially warblers), it's the place to be in May...

The workbook I wrote for the class and other field sketching supplies are ready to be packed up. 
Why do migrating warblers love the Great Black Swamp and Magee Marsh? 
...because they are exhausted from their long flights from their wintering grounds in South America, and they need to rest up before crossing Lake Erie on the final leg of their journey northward to their summer breeding grounds. The trees literally drip with warblers, and they are often at eye level instead of high in the treetop canopies.  Click here for a must-read article titled "Magee; Anatomy of a Migrant Hotspot," by Kenn Kaufman. It's on the American Birding Association blog, and it explains everything going on at this birding hotspot.

A female Canada Warbler is giving some unsuspecting insect the eye.
Female Canada Warbler
The large, bight eye ring stands out so well on Canada Warblers and adds to their charm. 
...the yellow lines above the nose on a Canada Warbler create a nice pattern.
...now, to get busy packing!

...now to pack the car!
Click here for another article you might want to read called "I've got Swamp Fever," by Kim Smith who writes the blog, Nature is my Therapy. She explains a little more about the Great Black Swamp in her post.



I will be blogging about the Biggest Week over the next few weeks. The birds, the people, the events...everything about the Biggest Week is amazing!

10 comments:

FAB said...

Have a safe journey and enjoy your time a Magee Marsh.

Kelly said...

...thanks, Frank!

Jan said...

How can I get a copy of your book? I can't go to the Biggest Week.

Kelly said...

@ Jan - Hi Jan! Email me, and I'll get your info. (kelly@seapine.com).

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi there, Just stopping by to say “Happy Mother’s Day” to you. I’m sure you are having a fabulous day. I celebrated yesterday when one of my sons and his beautiful wife came to see us….

As you probably know, we’ve been out-of-town this past week and I haven’t done any blogging much at all. I hope you enjoyed my two Tulip blog posts while we were gone——and be sure and tune in tomorrow morning to find out what we’ve been doing this past week….

Enjoyed your post today! AND---It is always GREAT to hear from you, Kelly... I know you'll LOVE the birding event... Good luck with your teaching --although I'm sure you won't need any luck....You'll do GREAT!

Hugs,
Betsy

Tammie Lee said...

wow, those packages for your class look awesome and so well prepared! such a beautiful bird and photos. sounds like a wonderful place to enjoy birds! wishing you a grand time!

Montanagirl said...

I know you'll have a wonderful time! Can't wait to see your photos and hear all about it!!

Kelly said...

@ Betsy - thanks for the mama's day wishes, Betsy! Thanks…I'm up at Maumee now. The birds are singing and I'm tucked in my little cabin listening to them. Class starts early tomorrow morning!

@ Tammie - Thanks, Tammie. You would love it here. The birds are wonderful.

@ Mona…thank you! I hope to get a few photos tomorrow afternoon after the class. The weather is supposed to be windy, but no rain!

Elaine said...

Wonderful shots!

Tammie Lee said...

I see that you did create the book. I thought i remembered that. it looks gorgeous, such a wonderful, refreshing and inviting cover!